How to Convert VHF Marine Radio Channel to MHz

Converting VHF to MHz is easy.

The marine VHF radio frequencies are those that cover the broadcast spectrum from 156.050 MHz to 162.525 MHz. Converting the channel number on your marine VHF radio to a numerical frequency in MHz---in order to listen in without having to buy a dedicated marine VHF radio---requires little effort if you have a radio that can receive transmissions in the frequencies between 156 MHz and 163 MHz. Two methods are available and, with practice, you'll find the simplest method for your purposes.

Things You'll Need

• Computer
• Internet Access
• Pencil
• Paper

Instructions

1. Go to the website of the U.S. Coast Guard Navigation Center/Marine Telecom page of the U.S. VHF Channels. Find the VHF channel you wish to listen to in the first column. To the right of the VHF channel in the first column is the corresponding VHF frequency.

2. Write the numbers 5 through 14 vertically on a sheet of paper. Next to the number 5, which is channel 5, the lowest marine VHF frequency, write 156.250. Add 0.5 to that. The result is 156.300---the frequency for channel 6. The frequency of each channel, through channel 28, increases by 0.5 MHz.

3. Place the numbers 16 through 28 vertically on your paper. Channel 16 represents 156.800 MHz. The frequency increase, in steps of 0.50 MHz from channel to channel, resumes at channel 16 and continues until you reach channel 28.

4. Inscribe the numbers 66 through 80 on your paper. Channel 66, at 156.325 MHz, returns to the pattern of increases in increments of 0.50 MHz through channel 80, the highest available marine VHF channel.

References

• U.S. Coast Guard Navigation Center: U.S. VHF Channels